WORK on the new Crown Court for Ipswich was officially was being started by the town's senior judge today.

By PAUL GEATER

Paul.geater@eveningstar.co.uk

WORK on the new Crown Court for Ipswich was officially was being started by the town's senior judge today.

Judge John Devaux was taking the controls of an excavator to cut the first ceremonial turf of the new £15 million building.

The four-storey building is due to be completed by the summer of 2004 and should be a flagship development for Ipswich Village.

Ipswich Council leader Peter Gardiner said, "The new Crown Courts will offer court staff a modern and attractive working environment, while making a superb addition to the Ipswich Village."

There will be five new courts with a maximum occupancy in the building of 1,000 people.

It will have a bold glass façade fronting onto Chancery Road with interior public concourses open to view. There will also be access from Russell Road.

The facing will comprise of a mix of materials including white bricks and stainless steel cladding similar to the Lowry Centre.

The scheme will include a public work of art situated on the frontage and decorative paving over the Russell Road frontage in the adopted Village style which will match that being done on Sir Alf Ramsey Way as part of the North Stand development.

Once the court opens, it is expected to handle more high-profile cases, including murder trials, from Suffolk.

The existing Crown Court building in Civic Drive is due to be taken over by the magistrates' courts and will be used especially for early appearances for people facing serious charges which will eventually be transferred to higher courts.